Tractor plow



J. G. STEPHENSON TRACTOR PLOW Filed Qo t. 7, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Get. 6, 1925. 1,556,173

J. G.- STEPHENSON TRACTOR PLOW Filed Oct. -7, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Got. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAY e. s'rnrnnnsoN, or ATHENS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN ENTS, '10 ATrrENs PLOW COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01? TENNESSEE.

TRACTOR PLOW.

Application filed October 7, 1921. Serial No. 506,123.

To all Ill/20ml it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY G. STEPHENSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Athens, in the county of McMinn and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Tractor Flows, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tractor plows, and is an improvement on the plow device the likelihood of the beam becoming bent or strained during use is eliminated; second, to provide a novel means forassociatlng the extension bar with the usual type-of d ad axle, said means permittingadjustment of the steering wheel carried bythe extension bar in relation to the tractor and plows, whereby the width of the "furrow out can be readily regulated; and third, to provide a novel means for raising and lowering the plows and adjusting'the plows in relation to the ground fronrthe drivers seat.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction,

' arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the means of associating the plow with the tractor.

Figure 2 is a plan View illustrating the means for connecting the plow with the tractor.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the dead axle of the tractor and the extension bar therefor, illustrating the means of associating said extension bar with the,

dead axle. 1

Figure 4 is a detail horizontal section through the dead axle and extension bar 0 taken on the line 4-4 of Figure Figure 5 is an enlarged detail plan view partly in section illustrating the means of connecting the plow beam with the supporting beam of the device.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section, illustratin the means of connecting the forward cm of the plow beam with the extension of the dead axle.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail elevation of the means of connecting one of the plow supporting brackets with the adjusting and raising and lowering lever.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the plow beam showing one end thereof.

Figure!) is a detail elevation of the attaching plate utilized for holding the supporting beam of the attachment to the frame or diil'orential housing of the tractor.

deferring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters desigpate" corresponding parts throughout the several views, the latter A indicates a tractor; and B, the plow associated therewith.

The tractor A may be of any preferred make, size or style, but as shown is of the Fordson type, and the same includes the front dead axle 10, the front steering wheels 11, and 12, the rear drive wheels 13 and 14,

and the draw bar cap 15 carried by the rear end of the frame or dilferential housing 16. As shown the forward end of the differential housing 16 is provided with an attaching flangeli', which abuts the attaching flange 18 of the crank case 19 of the engine. Certainof the bolts 20, which are utilized for connecting the differential casing with the crank casing, can be used for another purpose, which will be hereinafter more apparcut.

The front steering wheels 11 and 12 are rotatably mounted in the usual manner on stub axles or wheel spindles 21 and 22, which carry the usual rearwardly extending steer- "videcl with pairs: of inwardly viousl'y plowecl, anal to peymi b the lzi'izeizel extending of this wheel, on extension is necessary for the ordinary cleael exile 10. This Wheel 12 is extended laterally in such a manner, so as to form em strong and rigid eonslzrucibion end to allow the some to be adjusted in relation to the tractor end the plow mechanism B. This means will be hereinafter more fully desei'ibeel.

The means includes a ieleiifiv'ely long sleeve 26, in which is slielelily mounted. on extension bar 27 which can be held in any preferred ecljusied position in rela tion to the sleeve by means o a. screw 28 carried by the sleeve, enrl- Winch adapted to impinge against ilie but .27. 1* can be seen that in reality ilie sleeve 26 end "the bar QT, form :1

single 02 unitary ezilension bar for clie WllQQL em; for the oi cleerness been designated as the sleeve eml as the extension bar. The sleeve 3 one part has '1'? other is" proflooding spaced ears 2i one 3 7 which adapted to embrace the upper and lower faces the The core 3 are provided front dead mile 1o. with openings which adapted to align "with the usual spindle bolt bearing ill on one end of the (lead axle l0, ancl wis bearing modthe ears receive removable reteim mg Looleo'r the like 32.

33; TEL-om this it can be seen that when the Wheel 19, is to be extemled laterally of its coznoenioii tractor Wheel 1 the ordinary spincLe bolt is i-enic /ecl from the spindle bolt bearing 31 and the-extension be? placed in engagement with the encl oi the (lead axle 10. This spindle bolt is om placed in a bearing El ifol-moo in the ouier'encl the our 27 The on not slicer;

ing illln ccunee'nin' rod is also disconuectc i from "the sieei'in' airi'o Wl are l is extender} late [if and LI is pro/ruled \iillCli is pivotal J with the steering mm and navy connecting rocl by meo 37, which also permits an tween the me, 3:) and ex 'ensioro. You. 36, as 15 readily oopaiene.

The upper face of ihe sleeve 26 ucljaceni to its out, end is provided. wi.tl1.zu1 upwardly extending; diagonally disposed lug 38, ihe purpose of which will also be liere- All thereto.

The ears ave apex-towed. for 'elie reception oi a. retaining bolt 01' tlie like lllilfilil'l'ulzllle the front and Beer running gear, just so illfi short rugged beam 1L6 may lie elliciently wneeoted. lo the creator frame Wil'liout unduly lengthening ilie This beam 40 is preferably llziitenecl i luoughoufi the major poi-lion o its leugw, i, so es to foe?)- mi't Elle z'eecly eeeiii'ing oi the plow loreckeis 'lli'e terminals of the beam are iounilecl, as at and e 3 'iao provicle trunni-ons and the forward trunnion 43 ie mounted. for free rotor movementin a beei'ing the bore of which can :ueiretl cutweiwlly iii so (lesir 'lll'iis bee-ring A lies li'umed integral iliei'ewith lug 45, which forms a,

lug The lugs end l5 are pro-view "Wiei meshing ale to peeqent i'elo 'eiclenl'el movement therebetween, 111 e lugeore providecl with axial openings for the reception of e pivoi;

and retaining bolt e7. The rear trunnion leg t-ed r eolclthe sleeve 1-9 in an edpieaeo nosimcn. on

the angled encl 50. It can be seen that the ii-liiusi bee i e plow beeui. 450 can vevl "rom the elector by the i7, and wiilulmwimply lemon? 5; (lie lug ie lug 38 anal the lziunnion out of the arrest bearing The si'ippoi'tmg rocl or oemio, 51. extends lon iucliefielly along the rear end of ir'oe tractor, eml in parallel remlion and. the rear end oi' the supporting rod or beam is lcrmecl all right angles to said rod as at 55, and provided with an attaching foot 56, which can be bolted or otherwise secured, as at 57; to the orelinm'y drew her cap In order to effectively support the lei-Ward. eno of the supporting beam or bar 51, to hold the some against acedental moveinent, e bearing ,plete is provided. The

beam 51,

1' (3 erod sleeve felllS in the E'roin ou'i; oi engagement with housin s with o to the longitudinal m-eelial line thereof; I

m .c runnfiiig I 62 can be provided for the plow ing standard 71, by

' tial housing.

thereto in any preferred manner the plow discs '61, and these discs are extended at an path of movement of the trac- If desirable, scra er blades discs 51, in order to preventthe adhering of lumps or clods thereto. A means C is provided for permitting the raising of the plow disc from out of engagement with the ground, and for angleto the tor, as is usual.

lowering the plow disc into engagement with the ground and for holding the plow discs in various adjusted positions 'in relation'to the ground, to regulate the depth of the furrows being made. Thismechanism C includes a hand operated lever 70, which is pivoted intermediate its ends to a supportmeans of a bolt 72. The lower'end of this standard 71 is bolted or otherwise connected, as at 73,430 the sup porting rod or beam 51, and if found desirable, this standard can be braced by brace bars 74,-which may extend to the differen- The upper end 'of the standard 71 has secured thereto a sector rack 75, which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable pawl mechanism 76. The rear end of the lever is prfvided with a handle 77, which is positioned relatively near the operators seat of thetractor, so that the plows can be readily regulated therefrom. The inner or forward, end of the lever 70 has pivotally connectedEthereto, by means of a bolt 78, a connecting link 79, which extends downwardly toward one of the plow supporting arms or brackets 41. This arm or bracket 41 has connected thereto a bail 80, which is adapted to be engaged by an eye 81 formed on the lower end of the connecting link 79. The link 79 and the inner end of the lever 70 can be provided with a plurality of openings. in any of which the pivot bolt 78 is adapted to be placed. It can be seen that it is merely necessary to operate the lever 70, when it is desired to raise or lower the plow discs. I 1' found desirable, the connecting rod 79 can be made in a pair of sections and adjustably connected together, so that the distance of the plow in relation to the lever 70 can be initially. adjusted. I

By the construction just described, it can be seen that an exceptionally simple and. compact tractor plow has been provided, in which the use of a. relatively short rugged understood that one.

provided, ac-.

employed for ,mounting the plow beam is permitted, thereby absolutely precluding the possibility of the breaking or bending thereof.

This construction will also permit of the removal of the plow beam 40, and the plows 61, without necessitating the removal of the supporting beam 51 when the tractor is to he used for other purposes than plowing.

Now, it is also obvious that the means plow beam 40 allows a relatively wide range of adjustment of the plow discs 61 in relation to the tractor body. It can be seen that the angle of the plow beam 40 can be varied by sliding the sleeve 49 along the angled end'50 of the sliding mitted by the flared supporting rod or beam 51. This movement of the sleeve 49 is perbore of the bearing 44.

Also the angle of the beam 40 in relation to;

the horizontal can be adjusted by swinging the lug 4-3 011 its pivot bolt 47 in relation to the ing- 38. This swinging movement is also pcr mitted by the trunnion 42 in the flared bore of the thrust bearing 48. The adjustment of the steering wheel 12 also can be utilized for regulating the distance apart of the furrows previously plowed, and the furrows being plowed. In case very hard ground is being plowed it permits a less width of land to he cut by the plow disc, as it can be seen that if the steering wheel'12 is extended a less distance from the tractor. body, the plow disc will be cutting a less width of soil. In some cases, of extremely hard ground, it might be necessary to plow with only one disc, in which case a different adjustment of the front steering wheel would be necessary. The plow discs 61 are so disposed that the forward disc will engage in the ground directly inwardly of the front steering wheel 12, which engages in the inner furrow previously plowed, while the inner disc 61 is disposed directly in front of its companion tractor whel 14, which engages in the inner furrow heipg plowed. Thus, the tractor is held on its pourse and held against lateral shifting which renders the tractor plow adaptable for plowing hillsides. being disposed intermediate the front and; rear wheels allow the weight of the tractor to hold the same in. the ground, and in case a hard objcct is struck, the rearing back of the tractor is absolutely precluded.

Changes in details may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but,

I claim:

1. A tractor plow comprising in combination an elongated frame, a pair of tractor wheels supporting said frame at one end and disposed at cqui-distances and at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis thereof, a pair of steering wheels supporting the other end portion of said tractor, one of moyement, particularly positively The? plows wheels o'li'set it gre from mint-mi el lv mid of the frame toward the forward end oi? the running gear for said "frame the longitudinal axis of r 0. is than the other of said steerino' wheels and nlow bee-1n carried by said i e and extending wary of the ends said frame, a plow" beam diagonally sup ported'loy said tractor including menus connecting'the rear end thereof to said frame intermediate the front and rear rui gear, and means connecting the forward end of said plow loeorn to the front running gear adjacent that steering wheel which is most distantly positioned with respect to the longitudinzil center of the tractor frame.

A tractor plow comprising in combina-- tion a frame, front and rear ground wheels therefor, a plow been disposed at en angle to the longitudinal unis of said due-me,

means for securing the forward end of said bee-1n adjaoentto a front wheel, a longitudinallyextending supporting rod, means for. securing tine-rear end oifssid rod to the rear end oi. the tractor frame and the ion word end portion or said rod to the frame at a point adjacent the transverse center thereof, means for securing the rear end of said beam to the forward end portion of said supporting rod, end plows carried by. SillCl plow bee-1n. j

l. A. tractor plow comprising in combination a frame including front ground wheelsand :3 rear drew cup, a longitudinally extending supporting rod provided at its rear portion with on singularly extending attaching foot, means for securing seid foot to said drew cup, means for securing the forward end portion of supporting rod to the tractor ireme, e plow been: disposed at an angle to the longitudinal exis of sold frame, "means for seouringfithe forward end portion'oi' said beam udgacent one of said front wheels, means for securing the rear portion of said beam to the :toiwerdpor'tion of said supporting rod, and plows carried by said beam,

5. A tractor plow comprising in combination an elongated ironic, ii pair of tractor wheels supporting said frame at one end portion disposed at equal distances and on opposite sides of the longitudinal there- 'of, a front s de, a pair of steering; wheels supporting the otner end portion of the rreme connected to said mile, oneof said wheels being extended laterally e greater distance. from the longitudinal axis of the tt'ren'le than the other of said steering wheels, e drew hsr cepcsrlcd by rear end or ng foot formed on the rear end of the oezun, means securing the ottsching footto tie-draw her cop, an inwardly extending angled end formed on the forward end of the supporting been means for supporting die forward end of said supporting beam, a sleeve slid-ably mounted upon the angled forward end of the supporting beam, means for adjust-ably supporting the sleeve on said lest rcentionedsngled end, a thrust bearing carried by sleeve, a plow beam disposed et en angle to thelongitudinel center of the frame having trunnions formed on the opposite ends thereof, one of said trun nions oeing mounted in said thrust hearing, a, bearing sleeve carried by the axle adjacent-to the extended steering wheel for supporting the other trunnion formed on the plow beam, plow discs secured to said beam, means for raising said beam including a supporting standerd secured'to said supporting beam, a lever pivotally secured interend rigidly secured to the opposite end of the axle, an extension bar adjusta'bly mounted 1n smd sleeve, a. steering wheelsocured to the free end of the extension her, a diagonally extending nlow beam, means for securing the forward end of the plow beam to'the sleeve, means for securing the rear end of the plow ocean to the frame, and plows carried by said beam. l r i 7. In a tractor plow including a frame,

front axle, u steeringwheel carried loy one end of the front axle, a-sleeve, a pair of inwardly extending lugs carried by the sleeve arranged to embrace theaxle, the

axle having a, steering spindle bolt pin bearing formed thereon, one of said lugs being adapted to align with said hearing, e bolt extended through said bearing and lug, a olid extension bar slid-ably mounted in said or in lined relation to said sleeve, 21- steering wheel secured to the outer end ofthe means roclrzvbly-securing. the iimerend' of the plow beam tothe frame.

8. As plow attachment for a, tractor comprising a longitudinally extending supporting beam,

a new article of=naanufecti1re, ai

leeve, means for zuljustaloly. holding-said beam rockably carried by the angled inner end of the supporting beam, a sleeve','an exbeam to the forward end beams, and disc brackets.

tension bar carried by the sleeve, means adjustably and rockably connecting the forward-end of the beam to the sleeve, and plow discs secured to'said beam.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a plow attachment for tractors con'lprising a supporting beam. a right angular-1y disposed plow draft bar cap attaching foot secured to the rear end of said beam, an inwardly extending angled end formed on the for: ward'end of said beam. a diagonally tending plow beam, a sleeve mounted upon the forward angled end of said supporting beam, a thrust bearing carried by said sleeve having a tapered bore, an extension axle, an

upwardly extending inclined ear forn-ied on the upper portion of said extension axle, a

second bearing having a tapered bore, an ear formed on said second bearing arranged to abut the first mentioned ear, the inner faces of said ears having meshing teeth formed thereon, a pivot bolt connecting said ears, plow brackets secured to said plow plows carried by said 10. In a tractor plow iucludinga frame,

"a front axle, a steering wheel carried by one end of the front axle, an adjustable extension bar secured to the opposite end of the axle, a steering wheel for said adjust-'- able extension bar, a plow beam, and means for securing the plow beam to the adjusb able extension bar and frame.

y 11. A tractor plow' comprising an elongated frame having a draw bar cap thereon,

pair of traction wheels supporting said frame at an end thereof disposed at equal distances at opposite sides of thel longitudinal axis of the frame, a pair of steering wheels supporting the opposite end of the frame, one of, said steering wheels being offset a greater distance from the longitudinal axis of the frame than the'othenof said steering wheels. a longitudinally ex tending supporting rod attached at its rear end to said draw.bar cap, a plow beam supporting soil working devices intermediate of and inwardly of said traction and steering wheels, and means connecting said plow of said longitudinally extending supporting rod.

12. A tractor plow comprising a frame, front and rear running gear for the frame, a supporting rod connected adjacent its ends to said tractor and extending substantially parallel of the longitudinal axis thereof, and a plow beam supported at its rear end by the supporting rod and at its forward end by the front running gear.

13. A tractor plow comprising a frame, tractor Wheels supported at, one end of said frame at equal distances on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the frame, steering wheels supporting said frame at the 0pposite end thereof arranged on opposite sides of the axis of the frame-and at unequal distances from said longitudinal axis, a supporting member carried by said frame having .a portion thereof extending forwardly of the tractor wheels and adjacent the frame of said tractor, and a diagonal plow beam supported at its rear end by the forward end of said member and at its' forward end supported ,adjacentthe steering wheel of the tractor most distantly positioned from the longitudinal center of the frame.

14. A tractor c .)mprising a chassis which includes a frame, rear running gear for the frame, and front running gear for the frame including an axle with steering Wheels at the ends thereof, abeam, means supporting the beam upon said frame of the chassis at a location on the frame sulnstantialli half.- way between the front and rear running gear with the beam extending forwardly of said location towards an outer end of the axle ofthe front running gear. means connecting the forward end of the beam to said chassis adjacent a steering wheel of the front running gear, a plow, and means mounting the plow upon the beam between the front and rear running gear in bodily offset relation from said beam.

15. In a tractor plow a tractor chassis including front and rear running gear, a beam, means substantially horizontally connecting the beams to the chassis for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the beam, a plow, means connecting the plow on the beam between the front and rcarrunning gear and offset from the axis-of said beam, for rotating said beam .to move the plow toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the tractor.

16. A tractor plow comprising a frame, rear running gear for the frame, front running gear for the frame including a frame supporting axle having a lateral extension ofi'set more to one side of the frame than and means said axle extends to the other side of are frame, a beam, means supporting the beam at its rear end upon saidframe at a location on the frame about midway between the front and rear running gear, means confrom running and; shearing gear, rear runping and m'mfio ugear, and a frame supported by said from and war running gear incl'udifigg crank case and difierential housizig having attaching flange means extending outwardly harm the longitudinal axis 01 the tractor at a location substantially half Wmy between the front and. rear running g sar, a, beam, mamas COIHlGCiiElg the beam to .saidsatmching flange means at a side of the 10 JAY STEPLMENSUN.

aid baam between said 

